GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
S	1
SENATE BILL 966

 
 
Short Title:	Modify Prof. Dev. Reports/Ed Oversight Study.	()	
Sponsors:	Senators Dalton, Garrou, and Lucas.	
Referred to:	Education/Higher Education.	
April 5, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to amend the state board of education AND BOARD OF GOVERNORS reporting requirements for professional development programs, and to direct the joint legislative education oversight committee to study and make recommendations regarding professional development in north carolina.

Whereas, it is the policy of the State of North Carolina to continue to improve student academic achievement; and
Whereas, research shows that well‑trained teachers and school administrators are critical to providing effective instruction to students; and 
Whereas, the State has invested substantial funds to provide for professional development programs for public school professionals; and
Whereas, the General Assembly has not received sufficient information to demonstrate that the current use of funds for professional development is having a positive impact on student achievement; and
Whereas, the current budget situation demands that the General Assembly be assured that State funds are being used in an effective and efficient manner; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑12(26) reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑12.  Powers and duties of the Board generally.
The general supervision and administration of the free public school system shall be vested in the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall establish policy for the system of free public schools, subject to laws enacted by the General Assembly. The powers and duties of the State Board of Education are defined as follows:
…
(26)	Duty to Monitor and Make Recommendations Regarding Professional Development Programs. – The State Board of  Education shall identify State and local needs for professional development for professional public school employees based upon the State's educational priorities for improving student achievement. The State Board also shall recommend strategies for addressing these needs. The strategies must be research-based, proven in practice, and designed for data-driven evaluation. The State Board shall report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina prior to January 15, 2002, and shall review, revise, and resubmit those findings and recommendations annually thereafter. The State Board shall evaluate  the reports submitted by the Board of Governors under  G.S. 16-11(12a) to determine whether the programs for professional development provided by the Center for School Leadership Development address the State and local needs identified by the State Board and whether the programs are using the strategies recommended by the State Board. Prior to January 15th of each year, the State Board shall report the results of its analysis to the Board of Governors and to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.
…."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 116‑11(12a) reads are rewritten:
"§ 116‑11.  Powers and duties generally.
The powers and duties of the Board of Governors shall include the following:
…
(12a)	Notwithstanding any other law, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall implement, administer, and revise programs for meaningful professional development for professional public school employees in accordance with the evaluations and recommendations made by the State Board of Education under G.S. 115C‑12(26). The programs shall be aligned with State education goals and directed toward improving student academic achievement.  The Board of Governors shall submit to the State Board of Education an annual written report that uses data to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the programs for professional development offered by the Center for School Leadership Development. The report shall clearly document how the programs address the State needs identified by the State Board of Education and whether the programs are utilizing the strategies recommended by the State Board. The Board of Governors also shall submit this report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives prior to September 15th of each year."
SECTION 3.(a)  The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee shall hire an independent consultant to study and make recommendations regarding professional development for public school professionals in North Carolina.  The consultant shall study:
(1)	The professional development programs administered under the UNC Center for School Leadership Development with regard to their mission, governance structure, efficiency, and objectively measurable effectiveness in increasing student achievement.
(2)	The professional development support offered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
(3)	The use of professional development funds allocated to local school administrative units and individual schools.
(4)	National research regarding effective methods for delivering professional development that is shown to improve student achievement.
The consultant shall report these findings to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and also shall make recommendations regarding how existing State funds should be utilized to provide effective and efficient professional development for public school professionals.
SECTION 3.(b)  The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee shall review the consultant's findings and recommendations and shall submit to the 2002 Regular Session of the 2001 General Assembly recommendations to streamline, reorganize, and improve the delivery of professional development for public school professionals.  The recommendations may address revisions to program governance and mission, reallocation of funds, methods of program delivery, and methods to institute ongoing program evaluation.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.